1960s Bathroom Makeover

When Jay and I bought our home last year we both agreed the bathroom was the most hideous part of our 1964 time capsule. Nothing in the house had been renovated, and as much as we both love the charm of older homes there wasn’t much to keep (we did keep some of the original light fixtures). In late September we had crews come in and basically gut the entire bathroom, move all the drains, plumbing, and electrical. It was a huge job and has taken the longest out of all of our house projects so far. We still aren’t quite done yet but I couldn’t resist showing off the before and after (up to this point!).

1964: Before the Reno

This was the bathroom in it’s original glory. Two different types of flooring (carpet had actually been installed next to the tub as an “upgrade” but we ripped that out pretty much the first day). Original tile, tub, custom built vanity, and sink. You’ll also notice the baseboard heater which had stained the wall – we now have central air, thankfully! The layout of the original bathroom was also a bit odd. There was a ton of space around the toilet that was not useable, it made you feel like you were in your own separate room in the corner. We decided to use the extra space to separate the tub and shower while replacing the old long vanity with a smaller 36″ one. We also really wanted to have an old world charm to the new bathroom while still feeling modern.

After

I had a lot of inspiration photos that I pinned on Pinterest to see what would look good together. Starting from scratch was exciting and terrifying. I am by no means an interior decorator but I was very picky about the look for this room. To start, I knew I wanted real slate tile on the floor. It may sound weird but I have wanted natural stone tile since I was a teenager – I just love it. I also really love the look of the half-tiled wall. It feels kind of industrial and vintage at the same time. Creating the feeling of being in a heritage home was also really important to me. The tub, and fixtures were a big part of creating that feeling – and the real wood trim around the window.

Choosing each option for the bathroom was pretty stressful, I’m not going to lie. The day before we had to pick the tiles for the contractor I was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy – a condition where half of your face is temporarily paralyzed (I am 100% better now!). Jay ended up bringing home tile samples for me to look at and I basically shopped for everything else on Wayfair while I rested. Renos are so stressful but all of our hard work and waiting has paid off – we now have the bathroom of our dreams!

There is still some finishing work to be done beneath the window and our glass shower doors have to be installed. The white tile continues to the left of the toilet where the standup shower will be. I can’t wait to add some design touches to the bathroom with a floating shelf above the foot of the tub and some hanging plants.

Spending time in this bathroom is so wonderful! It has always been my dream to have a clawfoot tub to soak in and it really is heaven. I almost can’t believe it’s the same bathroom we started with back in September. I hope you liked seeing some of our home progress this far. Thanks for reading! Until next time.

Owner and curator of The French 75 - I love adventures, Christmas, vintage, and really really good coffee. Nothing makes me happier than sleeping in and sipping coffee with my husband on a wintry day with Carole King on the record player. I am always on the search for my next favorite place and my next favorite antique. Stay & read some of the thoughts here - and enjoy peeking at a few items in our store.